Arizona Retinal Detachment and Vitreous Surgery

Repairing optical nerve damage and retinal detachment.

The eyeball is a hollow organ connected to the brain by the optic nerve. On entering the eye, this optic nerve spreads out into a thin layer of nervous tissue known as the retina and covers the inside of the eye like a blanket. The inside of the eye is filled with a transparent, jelly-like material called the vitreous. Vitreous body disorders are related to the normal aging process during which the jelly begins to liquefy and result in a mixture of liquid and gel. Debris tends to gather where the solid and liquid meet in the eye, resulting in "floaters" or small cobwebs that we see when we move our eyes.

When the jelly-like vitreous begins to liquefy and collapse, it can tug on the nerve-tissue lining of the eye (the retina) and produce flashes of light. This symptom needs to be carefully evaluated. The collapsing vitreous may be attached to the retina in spots and can cause localized tears in the retina. These tears open into holes in the retina allowing the liquid portion of the vitreous to sometimes seep through the hole and peel the retina away from its blood supply in the wall of the eye. This results in a retinal detachment with potentially severe loss of vision.

Floaters and flashing lights in the vision need to be evaluated by a trained eyecare specialist to ensure that they do not represent a dangerous condition. Abnormal holes in the retina that are caught early enough can normally be sealed using a laser, which can greatly decrease the danger of retinal detachment. If a detachment has actually begun, surgery may be required to remedy the problem.